Article Review: “Civil Disobedience” by Henry D. Thoreau

The article “Civil Disobedience” by Henry D. Thoreau is a personal reflection on how an ideal government should operate. The large percentage, according to the author, is the source of power for any government. His point of view is evident when he says, “That government which rules not at all is the finest” (Thoreau 6). This does not imply that he is anti-government, but rather that he is a proponent of better governance. He claims that unfair laws exist frequently inside governments and that citizens should not mindlessly follow such laws. Men should “attempt to reform them,” as he puts it, rather than waiting for the large percentage to determine the next action to take. Thoreau is unafraid to say that the United States of America has an unfair government since it engages in extreme military tactics and enslavement. He puts a lot of emphasis on the government’s aggressive opposition against the citizens. All through his article, Thoreau also highlights how those who contribute to our society are not regarded as essential as those in the cabinet. Thoreau uses pathos to explain how the government is incompetent in a passage from “Civil Disobedience” by employing strategic grammar, similes, and metaphors.

“The government that rules the least is the best,” Thoreau says of the government (Thoreau 1). Thoreau required the government to protect the people, to achieve things for them, but not to endanger their lives. He didn’t support the US government since he opposed slavery and the Mexican War. Citizens should be supported by the government, and the government should choose what is best for them. He believed that the government was benefiting more than the citizenry. Thoreau would rather do it alone than count on a corrupt government at any period in recent history. Those who defend official power with their votes and appraisals contribute to and are necessary for the deceit. Unfortunately, people rely heavily on the government for survival and are obligated to assist degenerate administrations. He does not need any people to vote, but he does have an issue with the solicitations from the government.

Thoreau develops a sense of pathos all through the text to persuade his followers of the finest type of government. When describing his relationship with imprisonment, Thoreau employs poignancy. When Thoreau is speaking with his fellow inmate, he questions him for what legitimate reason he was imprisoned. “They accused me of burning a barn: but I have never done it,” the cellmate responds (Thoreau 9). This statement demonstrates how unreasonable it is for the government to imprison an honest guy. As the conversation progresses, the fellow inmates also mention how he has been waiting for his trial for three months, making the audience feel sorry for him.

We should disagree, according to Thoreau. “The true place for a good man under a government that imprisons anyone unjustly is in prison” (Thoreau 6). People should stop making decent on their debts, and the government will be stuck with no money for firearms or enslavement, putting an end to military conflicts. Many inhabitants are opposed to slavery and war, but they do not stand up for their rights. They are overly fearful and disregard it, unable to address it despite putting themselves in that predicament. Thoreau himself felt liberated and courageous, embracing an internal monologue that led him to imprisonment he considered was insane, but which he believed was the best option. People should oppose and fight for their government. He requires people to acknowledge and embrace what is right and to support the resistance. Thoreau wants you to take matters into your own hands and break the law, even if it means going to jail to end your slavery. Enslavement is unjust in his opinion, and he believes that people who oppose it should exercise their rights as well.

“Cast your complete vote, not a strip of paper just, but your whole influence,” Thoreau advises against voting (Thoreau 6). Whether you choose to be brave and concentrate on what you want, or you choose to ignore it, acting in favor of it will get you nowhere. Be determined to fully commit to and demonstrate effort toward what you feel is best for you and society. Be adamant about living the life you want to live, not the one that the government tells you to live. To have any impact, vote out representatives and policies. If you do not really want to be a slave or go to war, get up and protest or do not pay your bills.

The significance of morals to Thoreau is evident throughout the article. As a result, he establishes ethos by declaring, “I do not wish to quarrel with any man or nation.” I don’t want to sift through the weeds… or try to outdo my neighbors” (Thoreau 10). Thoreau aspired to be a voice for the masses and to defend them. Without such clarifications, the reader would think of Thoreau as extravagant, especially in the context of a powerful political composition. Thoreau does not stop at establishing himself as an ordinary inhabitant; he goes even further by separating himself from the radicals. “But, to speak genuinely and as a citizen, unlike those who label themselves no-government men, I demand, not immediately no government, but immediately better governance,” he says (Thoreau 11).

Thoreau expertly employs vocabulary in “Civil Disobedience,” concealing some truths within phrases while making claims based on his own judgment. “Others- like most legislators, politicians, lawyers, ministers, and office-holders- serve the state largely with their heads; and, because they struggle to make any ethical judgments, they are as likely to serve the devil, without meaning it, as God,” he writes in a passage from “Civil Disobedience.” Although it is true that most government officials have no moral ambiguity, he overstates when he claims that they are working for the devil. He also uses the phrase “they” and “them” to distinguish himself from both the government and the people he believes are the perpetrators.

Thoreau uses a lot of metaphors and similes in his work. He depicts the individuals who serve the state as robots in a passage from “Civil Disobedience,” yet the country treats them as nothing more than menial laborers. Using rhetorical devices, Thoreau effectively depicts the government’s low opinion of people who truly serve their country. “They receive no more respect than men of straw or a lump of dirt,” writes Thoreau.

Thoreau tugs on the emotions of the readers by demonstrating how the government treats the national army. “To his fellow-men, he who offers himself totally to them appears useless and greedy; but to them, he who gives himself partially to them is called a benefactor and philanthropist.” He aims to entice the public by making them feel terrible about how politicians handle and see the rest of the country. “I am too highborn to be propertied, to be a second in command, or to be a valuable serving-man and instrument To any sovereign state anywhere in the world.”This was a Shakespeare quote that Thoreau used to demonstrate a better understanding of how politicians, attorneys, and legislators regard themselves so favorably while those who perform duties for the nation are frequently considered as opponents by the state.

Considering that the article was published during the Mexican War in 1849, Thoreau is well-positioned to make solid claims regarding government misuse of power. He does, however, criticize the people for lacking to speak up for the government’s terrible administration. Logic is the most effective approach he employs to establish his opinions. “A laissez-faire government is better,” he says, “most men do not judge their work morally,” “citizens may make an immoral judgment by mindlessly obeying the government,” “citizens have the power to reform an unjust government to be just,” and “the government should respect its citizens.”This indicates that backing or obeying an unfair administration is a form of social injustice. It also suggests that every person has a duty to keep their government accountable. Thoreau frequently makes use of repetition to make his points. His audience can quickly understand his primary ideas thanks to this strategy. He also employs imagery, which adds to the vibrancy of his writing. “If I have unfairly wrested a board from a drowning man, I must restore it to him even if I drown myself,” he says (Thoreau 12). This visual emphasizes that if one does not agree with the government’s activities, one must fight back. It also signifies that nobody should deprive another individual of a right that they have earned, even if they are vulnerable or underprivileged. The tone and syntax are formal, intellectual, and elegant.

Thoreau is intelligent enough to make his points about how the state is corrupt using literary tactics and pathos appeal. He is capable of playing on one emotion after another throughout the extract and the full article, letting one feel indignation and disbelief regarding the government, but also empathy and respect for people who reject the government. “Civil Disobedience” demonstrates to the American citizens that the state is incompetent and abuses its powers, and that sovereignty should be returned to the people.

Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau is as relevant today as it was for Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. in the previous century. However, we should not just value the importance of rejecting what we believe is ethically wrong; we should also cherish Thoreau’s broad, yet successful, use of classical rhetoric discourse. Rather than insulting his listeners bluntly, he used standard techniques to meticulously structure his speech around two opposing theses, one of which is dependent on the other. Thoreau appears to have believed that people who were willing to sincerely listen would understand and act on his true meaning.

Finally, with his article “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau made a vital contribution to the struggle against government discrimination and oppression, as well as against enslavement. He argued for fast action in the face of an unfair administration. There is much to learn from this gentleman who dedicated his life to helping others. I propose that people read this article because it can provide confidence for dealing with a fraudulent and unfair administration. We should all aspire to have the same level of self-assurance he did in standing up to the injustices of our society. More significantly, the government must recognize that it has an obligation to its citizens, which it must fulfill with unwavering faith. generally, Thoreau’s work is a masterwork whose beliefs should be carried down through the generations.

Works cited

Thoreau, Henry David, and Archibald MacLeish. Civil disobedience. Chadwyck-Healey Incorporated, 1987.